| Your child says he or she wants a pet. | | | | type of pet is not feasible, you need to |
| This is often a good idea, as pets can | | | | say that. If you are allergic to other |
| help teach respect for other living | | | | animals, you need to explain that cats |
| creatures, as well as teach children | | | | and dogs make you sick. And if you think |
| responsibility and the importance of | | | | that you will get another pet down the |
| taking care of what belongs to them. | | | | road, tell the child that you will use |
| However, it is not always a good idea to | | | | the fish to see whether or not he or she |
| simply run out and purchase a dog or a | | | | is responsible enough for a pet. Once |
| cat. Even something small, like a | | | | the child proves that she or he will |
| hamster or a gerbil, may not be the best | | | | take care of the fish properly, then you |
| route for a first pet. A fish, on the | | | | can move on to a more care intensive |
| other hand, is an excellent choice for a | | | | pet. |
| first pet, as its specific qualities | | | | Shopping for the fish can actually be a |
| make it ideal for helping kids learn | | | | fun experience. The kids get to look at |
| about taking care of a pet. | | | | different kinds of fish, and they get to |
| Many parenting experts will tell you | | | | look at aquariums. Picking out what goes |
| that it is important to give children | | | | in the aquarium, to "decorate" the |
| small amounts of responsibility to begin | | | | fish's "home" is also part of the fun. |
| with. While it is important that kids | | | | Starting out with a simple aquarium, or |
| learn how to do things on their own, | | | | an even simpler fish bowl, is a good |
| overwhelming them with unreasonable | | | | bet. Let the child choose out colorful |
| demands will only cause emotional | | | | rocks for the bottom of the fish tank or |
| distress and may even permanently damage | | | | bowl, and let him or her choose a plant |
| their confidence. The same rule applies | | | | or some ceramic decoration. It need not |
| when choosing out a first pet. The | | | | be fancy. |
| reason that fish are such great first | | | | Put your child in charge of feeding the |
| pets lies in the fact that fish requires | | | | fish each day. Show him or her how to |
| some work on the part of the child, but | | | | properly do this, and choose out a time |
| not so much that it is overwhelming. | | | | of day that is easy to remember for the |
| Additionally, fish are easier to care | | | | regular feeding. Just before school, or |
| for in general, and they won't make a | | | | just before bed, are good times because |
| mess all over the house or the yard. | | | | they are times of the day that are |
| Finding out that they are getting a fish | | | | generally associated with a fairly set |
| can be disappointing to a child, but you | | | | routine. Help your child clean out the |
| need to explain things to him or her. If | | | | tank as needed, ensuring that the child |
| you live in an apartment and any other | | | | learns how to care for animals. |